S.B. 16

This document includes Senate 2nd and 3rd Reading Floor Amendments incorporated into the bill on Wed, Mar 5, 2014 at 9:22 PM by lpoole. --> This document includes House Floor Amendments incorporated into the bill on Thu, Mar 13, 2014 at 9:50 AM by jeyring. --> 1

VETERANS TUITION GAP COVERAGE
2 2014 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Luz Robles
5 House Sponsor: Curtis Oda
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 Committee Note:
9 The Veterans Reintegration Task Force recommended this bill.
10 Membership: 5 legislators 15 non-legislators
11 Legislative Vote: 5 voting for 0 voting against 0 absent
12 General Description:
13 This bill provides grants to qualifying military veterans who have maximized certain
14 federal benefits.
15 Highlighted Provisions:
16 This bill:
17 . creates the Veterans Tuition Gap Program, which provides recipients of federal
18 Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act benefits with additional grants to
19 complete a bachelor's degree at certain institutions of higher education when federal
20 benefits have been maximized;
21 . directs the State Board of Regents to:
22 . develop policies to implement and administer the program, within statutory
23 guidelines; and
24 . distribute the program money to institutions of higher education; and
25 . establishes time limits that qualified military veterans may receive program grants.
26 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
27 This bill appropriates:

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Senate 2nd & 3rd Reading Amendments 3-5-2014 lp/aos 28

. to the State Board of Regents - Student Assistance, as an ongoing appropriation:
29 . from the General Fund, H. [ $250,000 ] $125,000 .H , which is nonlapsing for
29a fiscal year 2014-15 H. [ . ] ; and
29b . to the State Board of Regents - Student Assistance, as a one-time appropriation:
29c . from the General Fund, $75,000, which is nonlapsing for fiscal year 2014-15. .H
30 Other Special Clauses:
31 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2014.
32 Utah Code Sections Affected:
33 ENACTS:
34 53B-13b-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
35 53B-13b-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
36 53B-13b-103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
37 53B-13b-104, Utah Code Annotated 1953
38
39 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
40 Section 1. Section 53B-13b-101 is enacted to read:
41 CHAPTER 13b. VETERANS TUITION GAP PROGRAM ACT
42 53B-13b-101. Title.
43 This chapter is known as the "Veterans Tuition Gap Program Act."
44 Section 2. Section 53B-13b-102 is enacted to read:
45 53B-13b-102. Definitions.
46 As used in this chapter:
47 (1) "Federal program" means the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of
48 2008, Pub. L. No. 110-252.
49 (2) "Institution of higher education" or "institution" means a:
50 (a) credit-granting higher education institution within the state system of higher
51 education; or
52 S. [ (b) private, nonprofit college or university in the state that is accredited by the
53 Northwest Commission for Colleges and Universities. ] an institution of higher learning, as defined
53a in the federal program, that is located in the state. .S
54 (3) "Program" means the Veterans Tuition Gap Program created in this chapter.
55 (4) (a) "Qualifying military veteran" means an individual who:
56 (i) is a resident student under Section 53B-8-102 and rules of the board;
57 (ii) is accepted into an institution and enrolled in a program leading to a bachelor's
58 degree;

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- 3 - 59 (iii) has qualified for the federal program;
60 (iv) has maximized the federal benefit under the federal program; and
61 (v) has not completed a bachelor's degree.
62 (b) "Qualifying military veteran" does not include a family member.
63 Section 3. Section 53B-13b-103 is enacted to read:
64 53B-13b-103. Establishment of the Veterans Tuition Gap Program.
65 There is established a Veterans Tuition Gap Program to serve qualifying military
66 veterans with tuition assistance at institutions of higher education when federal benefits under
67 the federal program are no longer available and a qualifying military veteran has not finished a
68 bachelor's degree.
69 Section 4. Section 53B-13b-104 is enacted to read:
70 53B-13b-104. Guidelines for administration of the program.
71 (1) The board shall use the guidelines in this section to develop policies to implement
72 and administer the program.
73 (2) (a) The board shall allocate money appropriated for the program to institutions to
74 provide grants for qualifying military veterans.
75 (b) The board may not use program money for administrative costs or overhead.
76 (c) An institution may not use more than 3% of its program money for administrative
77 costs or overhead.
78 (d) Money returned to the board under Subsection (3)(b) shall be used for future
79 allocations to institutions.
80 (3) (a) An institution shall award a program grant to a qualifying military veteran on an
81 annual basis but distribute the money one quarter or semester at a time, with continuing awards
82 contingent upon the qualifying military veteran maintaining satisfactory academic progress as
83 defined by the institution in published policies or rules.
84 (b) At the conclusion of the academic year, money distributed to an institution that was
85 not awarded to a qualifying military veteran or used for allowed administrative purposes shall
86 be returned to the board.
87 (4) A qualifying military veteran may receive a program grant until the earlier of the
88 following occurs:
89 (a) the qualifying military veteran completes the requirements for a bachelor's degree;

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House Floor Amendments 3-13-2014 je/aos 90

or
91 (b) 12 months from the time that the qualifying military veteran receives an initial
92 program grant.
93 (5) A qualifying military veteran who receives a program grant may only use the grant
94 toward tuition at an institution of higher education in the state.
95 (6) The board may accept grants, gifts, bequests, and devises of real and personal
96 property from any source for the purpose of awarding grants to qualifying military veterans in
97 addition to those funded by the state.
98 Section 5. Appropriation.
99 Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, for
100 the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2014, and ending June 30, 2015, the following sums of money
101 are appropriated from resources not otherwise appropriated, or reduced from amounts
102 previously appropriated, out of the funds or accounts indicated. These sums of money are in
103 addition to any amounts previously appropriated for fiscal year 2015.
104 To State Board of Regents - Student Assistance
105 From General Fund H. [ $250,000 ] $125,000
105a From General Fund, one-time $75,000 .H
106 Schedule of Programs:
107 Veterans Tuition Gap Program H. [ $250,000 ] $200,000 .H
108 The Legislature intends that:
109 (1) under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, appropriations under this section not
110 lapse at the close of fiscal year 2015; and
111 (2) the use of any nonlapsing funds is limited to the Veterans Tuition Gap Program.
112 Section 6. Effective date.
113 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2014.

Legislative Review Note
as of 11-22-13 3:40 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel